CLE ELUM -- A 22-year-old Ellensburg man was ordered to pay $2,000 to help restore a Reecer Creek meadow that he extensively damaged with his pickup.

Jose Mora Villanueva, 22, was charged in U.S. District Court in Yakima with damaging the land through off-road use of a vehicle.

The case was filed in August after off-road enthusiasts reported to the Forest Service that they saw pictures of the damaged area posted on a Craigslist advertisement where Mora was trying to sell the truck.

Forest Service investigators and Kittitas County sheriff's deputies were able to locate the damaged area -- which covered about a half-acre -- and obtain a statement from Mora, acccording to court records.

Mora pleaded guilty and the case was closed last month.

The Forest Service issued a news release this week, noting a zero-tolerance policy for illegal "mudding."

"We have zero tolerance for mudding and will similarly prosecute other mudders. It is a problem every year, and leads to erosion, spread of noxious weeds, loss of water storage in the ground, and the damage remains obvious for years," said Tim Foss, trails manager for the Cle Elum Ranger District.

A Wenatchee man was sentenced two years ago to nearly two years in prison for a similar incident, according to the news release.

We've been sitting on this for a while. The investagation started after being alerted to this by concerned users seeing a for sale ad for a pickup pictured on Craigslist tearing up a meadow. Forest Service personal recognized the area and contacted the seller of the pickup. When confronted with the facts of the case the seller fessed up to his part in it. The rest is now history. Congrats to everyone involved in reporting this to the Forest Service. Those actions do make a difference. Our reactions may at times seem slow but nevertheless we do respond.